The Fun Just Keeps On Coming

Well, last week, I had high hopes of being at 100% by today. I finished my antibiotics on Saturday and was sure that "sore" feeling I had would go away. However, today, it hadn't went away, in fact, it wasn't as bad as two weeks ago but it was a long way from feeling normal.

When I got to work this morning, my lovely peeps talked me into just calling Becky to see if I could get some more antibiotics. Of course, Becky thought she better run another test to see if my kidney infection was gone. While I was there, she examined me, lets just say I jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

I hate to gross everybody out but I went from having blood in my urine to having blood in my stools. Not a good thing apparently, it seems to be the newest reason for my pain.

I now have a colonoscopy scheduled for Wednesday morning. I had to sign a waiver tonight saying I refused to go to the hospital but I promised Becky if my blood count was too far down when she gets the tests back tomorrow, I would go ahead and go because I would need blood.

I'm still trying to figure out why I let my peeps talk me into going back to the doctor. That along with being scared, and remembering all the times I have went through test after test to find out there is nothing wrong. Then I hear Becky "Mindy, there is blood...that means there IS something wrong."

Okay, now I've told all my "online" peeps- I'm asking for your prayers, mostly for my sanity. I am going to get up and go to work in the morning, so you might also pray along with me that when Becky calls me that I don't have to go to the hospital, and that hopefully, this is just a polyp running amok. If it is, more than likely, it can be taken care of during the colonoscopy.

Funny things that have been in our conversations today:
Becky: I want to schedule a colonoscopy for Friday (this was before she saw my stool samples and wanted me to go to the hospital tonight).
Me: Our church's cantata is Friday night, I can't do Friday
Becky: Can't they do without you?
Me: I'm the director--
Becky: I will schedule it for Monday

Becky (after seeing the sample): I can get you scheduled for Wednesday morning
Me: Does that mean I have to cancel the class I am teaching tomorrow night?
Becky: It does unless you want to teach it from the bathroom.

I went to work this afternoon, my boss started to jump onto me, I said I would rather be there doing some good than sitting at home feeling sorry for myself. She decided my statement overruled her scolding. (Anytime you get a chance to overrule your boss is just a little bit fun).

Now I am trying to decide what would be really scrumptious to eat tonight to make it through my "jello and broth" diet tomorrow.......

Thanks for listening! And thanks in advance for the prayers!

Back to the Grind

I have had people asking...I am a million, or maybe a trillion times better than I was last week at this time. I am still sore right in my right kidney but it isn't pain, just sore like when your neck is just a little stiff and you don't feel it until you turn your head too far? That kind of sore. Anyway, made it through that ordeal.

Life is back to just the normal crazy around here. Last night was my second class, I have a good group of students who actually know more than my normal classes. We went over internet and email basics last night. It was pretty well a breeze. Next week we start on Microsoft Office, then the fun will begin.

Robert is down for the count with the musical. BTW, I have tickets if anyone is interested, I am out of Thursday tickets at the moment but it is early so I am sure I could get more. They are $7.00 a piece, the times and dates are April 16th, 17th &18th @7:30 and April 19th @2:00. I got to see the very, very, end of the show last night, I was impressed.

I was also impressed by Roma, I had forgotten how much I loved her style of teaching, of course, she is just one more of those people who feeds my child's already over-inflated ego, but she still does a wonderful job of making everyone of those kids feel like they can do anything they set their minds too. It's easy to tell they love her too, otherwise, they wouldn't be spending 3 school nights a week and Saturday every week to make this happen. Just one more reason music and sports are important to a child's education, there are just so many things, like learning to work as a team and that sometimes, what you want takes a lot of sweat, that you just don't read in a book.

Andrew worked last night, until 1, I was exhausted (I've been told it's the antibiotics), so I didn't even get back up when he got home, consequently, I haven't seen him awake since Monday. I hate times like that, it's nothing compaired to when I am out of town though.

My friend Tom Matson had neck and back surgery yesterday, keep him in your prayers please, Nick said last night he was doing as well as could be expected for just having surgery.

One of the clerk's positions that was advertised on our website was actually someone to help me out, we had over 65 applicants, I have three picked out that I really like, one that I really, really like. The interviews are going to be the 14th and 15th, I am looking REALLY forward to that. I also start my modem and router class on the 15th.

I think I should have used Tracie and Sarah's bullets. This seems to be a hodgepodge of information.

My father-in-law left Arizona on Sunday, he is in Texas for a few weeks then heading toward the East, we are planning on seeing him here by June, he enjoyed the Jasper County fair last year, we are hoping he is here for that this year. I hadn't mentioned it because it was still really new, but he had planned on getting married and now he isn't. I feel really bad for him but am glad that if things weren't going to work out, it was found out before they got married. I am hoping (and yes, I know you will read this Bob) that he plans on staying around here for quite a while this summer. Robert and Andrew would have a ball with him here, they always do.

Okay, that's it, oh no, that's not it, count down to a "mini-vacation", 24 days. We are leaving on the 24th and going to Andrew's grandmother's in Brookfield Mo. She is 81, but very spry for her age. We are hoping to drive to Kansas City on Saturday and go to the Hallmark Visitor's Center and Crown Center, I know, I can come up with some obscure things to do, but it something I have wanted to see for a long time.

Our church choir is doing a Cantata for Good Friday, it is at 7:00 at Hidalgo Independent Christian Church, of course, you are all invited. There is a DVD that accompanies the choir, it is pretty cool. That's another reason I will be ready for vacation, we will have the cantata finished, then the next week get the musical finished, then we get some time away--YEAH!!!

Okay, now I have GOT to get ready for work so I guess I will quit rambling

Oh, Happy April Fool's Day!! (And happy anniversary to Norm and Kathy Houmes--funny the things you remember, huh??)

What Can a Cricut Do?

I promised Sarah that I would blog about my cricut, here are a few things I have done with it... This is just a page out of my scrapbook, the scrollwork was cut out with the cricut, Robert wants me to put this on vinyl so he can make a stencil to put the same scroll work on the transaxle of his truck, all I have to do is order the vinyl.

This was the wrapping for Amy's wedding shower present, I cut out the parts for the flower, the tag, and the rick-rack, all out of two sided wrapping paper.

I made Amy a cookbook, these little flowers were made with the cricut and are embellishments on one of the pages.

This is the front of the book..

I haven't bought any vinyl yet, that is my next thing, then I can do my own wall prints like the Uppercase Living stuff. I am also going to make a stencil to paint roses around the window in my guest room. I haven't tried the glass etching stuff though, they make it look incredable easy on tv. The cricut has stood up to my every expectation. I love it!

My Mom, Wonderwoman

I wanted to put this in a separate post, because I just wanted to let everyone know how wonderful my mom was for me through all of this. When I am down, I know she can always step in and fill in the gaps, I know it throws a wrench in her plans but she never seems to mind.

Tuesday afternoon, I was home alone, Andrew was at a meeting in Effingham and Robert was still at school. I went to lay down on the bed and realized I couldn't get up. I called Mom for her to stay on the phone with me while I tried to get up. I made it up even though I was screaming most of the time, as soon as I picked the phone back up, she said, "I'm on my way down, I didn't know you were by yourself". Sure enough 15 minutes later, she came through the door, she took my dogs out, waited on me hand and foot and stayed until Robert got home from school.

Yesterday, Robert had planned on Tika going to AWANA with us, Adam always spends Wednesday evening at our house and goes to AWANA with us. Mom came down to be there when they got home, then took them to Subway (her idea, not mine, there was food in the house and Robert could have fixed supper, but she thought they all needed Subway) then went to AWANA with them (new driving laws--Robert can't drive with more than one teenager in the car until next November unless there is an adult in the car also).

Thanks Mom for picking up the slack for me, you are the greatest!

Ran Through the Ringer

I have not had a good couple of days, to say I feel like I have been hit by a Mack truck would be putting it mildly, a freight train might be a little closer--worst part--it doesn't seem to be over.

Monday morning, I had a mild backache, I normally don't have backaches so it was a little odd, but it went away by noon and life was fine again.

Tuesday morning, it came back--with a vengeance. I took some Aleve and got myself to work but only to stay a couple of hours, I hurt so bad. I felt like I had on a girdle made of nine inch nails, there was pain wrapping all the way around me.

I went home convinced that there was a little something wrong with my kidneys and if I drank enough liquids, it would all feel better.

Yesterday morning, same pain, different day; I broke down and called Becky. I went to see her yesterday afternoon, she tested my urine and found that I had a large amount of blood in it and that I hadn't been drinking enough. She was pretty sure I had a kidney stone (flashback to Tuesday evening: Andrew:"I bet you have a kidney stone, lets go out in the jeep and I will shake it loose for you" Me:....Uhhhh...NO!!!!!!"-Anyway, Dr. Andrew diagnosed correctly--wish he would have pursued that profession!) Becky sent me to Effingham for 2 Cat scans and blood work, the worst part of the cat scans was getting on and off the table--until the put the contrast stuff in. I had never had that stuff, I had never had a cat scan. The tech warned me I would feel like I was having a hot flash, I would feel like I was peeing the bed, I would get a bad taste in my mouth. All I got was the bad taste, but I had drank about 24 ounces of this awful grape junk for them before hand, it mixed with the contrast made me want to puke. I thought I was going to, but I didn't. That was probably about the time I really thought you could have peeled me off the railroad tracks--I was toast.

By the time we left Effingham, it was 5 o'clock, all the test results were supposed to be back by 6, at 6:45 Becky called me with the information (bless her heart for sticking around for me). I have a nasty kidney infection and even though they couldn't find the stone, they all know it is or at least was there. I went to her office at 7 and she gave me a strong antibiotic and medicine to help me pass the stone. She threatened me about drinking enough liquids, if I can't get enough liquids, I have to go to the hospital and have an IV. I laughed and told her I had to speak at a parent fair on Friday and that I was planning on going back to work sometime Thursday. She laughed and said she hoped I felt like it. I said, I had no choice, I would feel like it.

So, here I sit, I haven't sit in a straight up chair since Tuesday, I have to admit, it isn't comfy, but I will survive it, I have every intention of spending the afternoon at work, for one thing, I need handouts for tomorrow for the workshop.

I will start working diligently on "ways to prevent a kidney stone" I never want another week like this one!

How to Dance in the Rain

Every once in a while, I get an email with a story that really touches me, my friend Tina sent this to me and it is definately one of those stories.

I wish for you all this kind of love....



How to Dance in the Rain

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.
I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.
The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.
As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.
I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?' He smiled as he patted my hand and said,
'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'
I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arms, and thought,'That is the kind of love I want in my life.' True love is neither physical, nor romantic.
True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
but how to dance in the rain.

Our "Date Day"

As obvious in the previous post, Andrew and I took off yesterday and went shopping, destination: Evansville.

We went downtown for lunch, there is a little place we found years ago that is an "authentic" deli--Emge's Deli. There are so many choices to pick from that I get overwhelmed but we both chose these mile-high reubens and ice tea--total lunch= $10.80. The place is always packed and just has that really neat atmosphere about it.

After lunch, we decided to check out the Walmart Neighborhood Market that was in the area. When they first came out with these, they told us they would be in downtown locations, and toward residential areas that were closer to downtown. Okay, I had it in my head that it would be in a storefront on mainstreet, I was a bit disappointed, it was more like our neighborhood IGA, which when I really thought about it, was exactly what it was supposed to be, it did sit in the middle of a community, people could walk from the apartment buildings next door to get their groceries. It was basically a Walmart that was all groceries.

We had decided earlier in the day that we would trek to Owensboro KY for dinner. Moonlite Bar-B-Q is a downright institution in Kentucky. They have a barbecue buffet that is to die for, sliced mutton, chopped mutton, sliced beef, chopped beef, sliced pork, pork ribs and chicken are all on the buffet (as is fried chicken, fried shrimp and catfish), along with okra and tomatoes, navy beans, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, corn muffins, and so on and on...then there is about 10 different pies and cobblers and oh my...it's just a great place to go. If you ever get down that way, check it out, it is really less than 45 minutes from Evansville and I feel it is well worth the trip.

It was great to get away for the day and I didn't even think about work (okay, the thought entered my mind a couple of times, but left quickly). It was a great day off and good to get to spend some time with Andrew. It seems like here lately we have been meeting each other as the other one is walking out the door. Glad to have some "reconnect" time!